Our new maps recognized that people often think of distance in terms of travel times, yet most maps don't provide this information.

WHITEHOUSE: Building Pedestrian Friendly Environments

When I started as a travel editor in 1986, American travel magazines resembled world maps before Columbus: There were lots of blank spots.

FORBES: New Horizons

The following year, IgoUgo--which hosts user-generated reviews of travel destinations and hotels, photos and maps--was folded into Travelocity.

FORBES: Travel Web Sites Get Personal

And whatever you do, don't trust the travel time estimates offered by sites like Google Maps or Mapquest.

MSN: Marathon commuters still find time for TV

Most notably, an update to Apple's mobile operating system left the phone's map, which replaces Google Maps as the phone's default travel tool, a spotty mess with lots of locations missing.

CNN: iPhone 5: The wait is over

While filming, the crew were escorted by South Korean military officers, able to travel off the few roads only under the guidance of carefully drawn landmine maps.

CNN: Beyond the barbed wire: the accidental paradise of the DMZ

From within the car, Kia owners will benefit from Google Places, which will provide POI and destination resources such as a dealership location, and Google Maps, which will provide directions to virtually anywhere and everywhere a car can travel.

ENGADGET: Google and Kia partnership will bring Google Maps and Places to new cars this year